Decorative grave closure



March 6, 1934. H, A. ROGERS Rr Al. 1,950,269

DECORATIVE GRAVE CLOSURE www March e, 1934. HARQGERS EAL y 1,950,269

DECORATIVE GRAVE CLOSURE Filed Nov. 8. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y V A Y /1 MZ.

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AJA- 27 27 ATTORNEY March 6, 1934. H, A, ROGERS Er AL 1,950,269

DECORATIVE GRAVE CLOSURE v Filed NOV. 8f 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Har ryA. ogenf Q) INVENTQRS ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES DECORATIVE GRAV CLOSURE Harry A. Rogers and Clyde Young, Gloversville, N. Y.

Application November 8, 1932, Serial No. 641,776

1 Claim.

"i to a casket lowering device or mechanism as employed for the lowering of a casket or a burial box within an open grave, the sections in their mounting being in themselves automatically movable to closing position so that the open grave l will be concealed when the sections are closed and have the appearance of a decorative grave plot.

Another object of the invention is the provision of aclosure or covering of this character, wherein the-constructlon'thereof is novel in form and is such that when not in use it can be folded into compact condition for the storage thereof and when in use will conceal the open grave from the View of persons at a burial service and also to eliminate the open earth appearance so unsightly to mourners at a burial service, thus giving to the open grave a decorative effect and when the casket or burial box is lowered into the grave the same will be completely covered from view.

A further object of `the invention is the provi- '30- sion of aclosure or covering of this character which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and effective for the purpose intended thereof, readily and easily applicable for use during grave service, decorative, and inex- `3'5 pensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, comblnation and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illus- 4o trated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an open grave 4&5y showing the closure or covering constructed in accordance with the invention related therewith, one section of the closure or covering being in closing position and the other section in an open position.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view showing a boxed casket in the initial lowering position within the grave with the closure or covering related therewith.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing V- the boxed casket partially lowered into the open grave with the closure or covering in closed position over the open grave.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the elosure or covering sections with the artificial grass and flowers removed therefrom.

Figure 5'is a vertical transverse sectional View through one of the sections showing the artificial grass and flowers associated therewith.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the manner of fastening the flowers to the artificial grass.

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one of the rollers associated with a closure or covering section.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional View 70 through a hinged joint of one of the sections.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 showing a portion of the hinged joint broken away.

Figure l0 is a perspective View of one section in folded condition.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, more particularly Figures 1, 2 and 3, A designates a por- 80 tion of an open grave and about the upper open top thereof is disposed a casket lowering device which is of well known construction and comprises a rectangular frame 10 having end bars 1l and rotatable side bars 12. The ilxed end 86 bars 1l are secured at their extremities in the corner posts 13, these being located at the corners of the rectangular frame. The rotatable side bars 12 are journaled at their extremities in these posts 13 as usual. The posts have the 90- flat bases 14 and are adapted to rest upon a framing 15 bordering the open top of the grave A as is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The posts 13 are provided with gearing (not 95 shown in the drawings) for controlling the rotation of the bars 12 to attain a slow and even or constant rate of movement thereof. Also a suitable foot pedal (not shown) is connected to the gearing in one of the posts 13 and is adapted 100 to release the gearing to permit rotation of the bars 12 and to restrain such gearing from movement when it is desired to stop the rotation of the said bars 12.

Straps 16 are securely attached at their ends 105 to the side bars 12. These straps extend across the length of the frame 1l and are positioned at spaced apart points intermediate to the ends of the side bars 12. The straps 16 are of suicient length to lower a casket 17 to the bottom of the 110 grave A. When the casket 17 is in its elevated position above the opening of the grave A it rests upon the straps 16 which are drawn tightly across the frame 11 with their end portions coiled on the side bars 12.

The grave closure or covering comprises a pair of open metal frame sections 18, each composed of an intermediate portion 19 and outer portions 20 respectively, the intermediate portions being connected with the outer portions through the medium of pivot joints 21, these being fitted with slidable sleeves 22 so that when the sleeves cover the joints the intermediate and outer' portions will be rigidly aligned with each other. Then by slipping the sleeves 22 off of the joints 21 the outer portions can be folded with the intermediate portion. This folding of the portions of each section 18 permits the storing thereof, when not in use, in the least possible space and also the convenient handling thereof when brought into use.

Suitably fastened to each section 18 near opposite ends thereof are the arms 23, these being formed with right-angularly bent substantially U-shaped clips 24 fitted with retaining bolts 25, the clips being engageable about the side bars 12 for swingingly connecting the sections 18 therewith. The sections are fitted at their free longer edges with rollers 25', the same being adapted for contact with a casket box or a casket so as to eliminate the marring or interference between the same during the use of the closure or covering when the lowering of the box cr casket takes place within an open grave as will be clearly apparent from Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings.

These sections 18 have suitably iixed thereto artificial grass blankets 26, the same being of an extent to fully cover the sections and also conceal the casket lowering device. The blankets are of such a kind that when the sections are swung to full open position to rest upon the ground, as exampled by the position of one of said sections in Figure 1 of the drawings, they can i be walked upon without damage thereto.

At the exposed side ofthe blankets 26 are arranged artificial owers or natural owers 27, these being held by clips 28 engaging selected portions 19 and 20 of the sections and are decorative of the closure or covering when in use at an open grave and especially during the lowering of the casket thereinto or when the grave has been closed by the closure or covering.

In the use of the closure or covering the sections 18 bearing the blankets hereinbefore set forth with the flower decoratives are attached to the side bars 12 of the casket lowering device and these sections are brought to rest against the sides of the box containing the casket 1'7 or the casket with the rollers in contact therewith when the said box or casket is in its elevated position and supported by the straps 16 of the lowering device. Now as the casket or box is lowered into the grave these sections 18 will gradually glide to a closing position for concealing the lowering of the box or casket into the grave A and also for the closing thereof when the box or casket has been lowered into the grave to the approximate extent as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings and thus the grave will have the appearance of a grass plot and iioral decoration thereto so that the grave services will be relieved of the unsightly or rugged condition by exposing the naked earth or the dug soil and the open grave.

What is claimed is:

A decorative grave closure comprising a pair of open frames of wire make-up and of a length greater than a grave opening, each frame including a series of sections pivotally connected together and foldable with relation to each other, slidable sleeves carried by each frame and movable over the pivotal connections of the sections to lock the same against folding movement and aligned one with the other, a pair of flat barlike arms carried by each of said frames and connected with the outermost sections of the same, substantially U-shaped terminals formed from the inner ends of said arms and disposed beyond the frames near opposite ends thereof and removably engageable about spaced side rails of a casket lowering device, nut-carrying bolts in said terminals at the open side thereof and removably retaining the rails in said terminals, artificial grass and floral decorative blankets secured at the outer sides of the frames to cover the same, and rollers journaled at the outer sides of the frames on the outer sections of the same. HARRY A. ROGERS.

CLYDE YOUNG. 

